WCM really needs your help

Thanks Heather. I really appreciate it. :angel: OK, here's the scoop as I know it. The City of WC pays most of Kerry's salary, and half of the asst. coaches salaries (which aren't very big- I think all 3 of them don't even make up 1 FT coach). Kerry is a FT employee w/benefits. Our team, through our dues, which are about $250/year (I think- it's no more than $300 for sure), pays the rest of Kerry's salary, and half of the asst. coaches. These funds have been eliminated by the city. We will most certainly have to pick up the difference as a team. Our concern is that Kerry has 30 years in with the City and full medical. We can't pick that up. Furthermore the city is asking us to use the Aquabear model where we rent the pool for x$/month. The Aquabears do not make the city money with this pool fee ($24,000/yr), and they don't make the city money at all. On the other hand, WCM, in addition to our dues, pays a splash fee $4.50, every time we swim. We bring in over $150,000 to the city every year! That more than pays for our coaches. Our board is looking at several options: 1) save our current situation- this pool is in a perfect central location (that's why we all swim in the same pool!) 2) moving to a new location, so no more WC anything (fine with us)- there aren't any other pools centrally located- probably lose people (not the goal of USMS) 3) trying to raise funds to build our own facility- that would take corporate sponsorship and that's a whole other can of worms. I am all for #3. I think that we could do it. It would probably take 5 years but I think we could. We could have as many meets as we wanted, etc... Anyway, please e-mail and let our city council know what an amazing team Kerry has created. Believe me we've been singing his praises, but they expect that from his swimmers. They'd be hard pressed not to listen to other swimmers from across the country, or even the border (hint hint): mayor@walnut-creek.org Please, it will take you 3 minutes max, and if takes longer than that, I'll buy you a beer. :chug: How about: Approach the city of WC together with Aquabears, and offer to take over the ownership and operation of the pool. Kerry is no longer a city employee, but if it's done right he and the clubs can do very well for themselves. IMHO, the biggest weaknesses for cities that operate pools is their high overhead (yes, city employees with salaries and benefits cost a lot) and poor facility programming. USA-S has great resources in this regard. I believe the city of Colorado Springs is now outsourcing ownership and operation of its pools.

Thanks Heather. I really appreciate it. :angel: OK, here's the scoop as I know it. The City of WC pays most of Kerry's salary, and half of the asst. coaches salaries (which aren't very big- I think all 3 of them don't even make up 1 FT coach). Kerry is a FT employee w/benefits. Our team, through our dues, which are about $250/year (I think- it's no more than $300 for sure), pays the rest of Kerry's salary, and half of the asst. coaches. These funds have been eliminated by the city. We will most certainly have to pick up the difference as a team. Our concern is that Kerry has 30 years in with the City and full medical. We can't pick that up. Furthermore the city is asking us to use the Aquabear model where we rent the pool for x$/month. The Aquabears do not make the city money with this pool fee ($24,000/yr), and they don't make the city money at all. On the other hand, WCM, in addition to our dues, pays a splash fee $4.50, every time we swim. We bring in over $150,000 to the city every year! That more than pays for our coaches. Our board is looking at several options: 1) save our current situation- this pool is in a perfect central location (that's why we all swim in the same pool!) 2) moving to a new location, so no more WC anything (fine with us)- there aren't any other pools centrally located- probably lose people (not the goal of USMS) 3) trying to raise funds to build our own facility- that would take corporate sponsorship and that's a whole other can of worms. I am all for #3. I think that we could do it. It would probably take 5 years but I think we could. We could have as many meets as we wanted, etc... Anyway, please e-mail and let our city council know what an amazing team Kerry has created. Believe me we've been singing his praises, but they expect that from his swimmers. They'd be hard pressed not to listen to other swimmers from across the country, or even the border (hint hint): mayor@walnut-creek.org Please, it will take you 3 minutes max, and if takes longer than that, I'll buy you a beer. :chug: How about: Approach the city of WC together with Aquabears, and offer to take over the ownership and operation of the pool. Kerry is no longer a city employee, but if it's done right he and the clubs can do very well for themselves. IMHO, the biggest weaknesses for cities that operate pools is their high overhead (yes, city employees with salaries and benefits cost a lot) and poor facility programming. USA-S has great resources in this regard. I believe the city of Colorado Springs is now outsourcing ownership and operation of its pools.